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A former government employee at La Lucia clinic in Durban and at least one accomplice are selling antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to members of the public.
Following up on a tip-off from a source, Health-e News got in touch with the former government employee, posing as a potential buyer. In a recorded phone call the man explains how the operation works:
“He [the accomplice still working at the clinic] said for a year it’s R2000 – that’s 12 containers. That’s how he takes them out. That means 6 would be R1000 — but I’ll have to ask him. And then he removes them from the container and puts them in a plastic bag so that you can also be protected and the next person won’t see that he’s giving you pills.”
But why would anyone buy ARVs when they’re available for free in government facilities?
Our source, who previously had medical aid and received antiretroviral treatment through it, was forced to cancel his membership after he could no longer afford the monthly premium.
Uncomfortable with the idea of visiting a public clinic – fearing he might be recognised by people in his community he began purchasing ARVs in the private sector but found the cost unsustainable. When he heard from others in his community about a man selling ARVs at a lower price on the black market, he chose to buy from him.
Health-e News was unable to find others who have bought ARVs from the clinic’s former employee, so the scale of the issue remains unclear.
South Africa has the largest HIV treatment programme in the world with 5.9 million receiving ARVs from government facilities for free. It’s estimated that around 420,000 people were getting HIV care in the private sector in 2022, where the estimated cost of ARVs ranged between R230 – R747.
Department ‘will investigate’
Health-e News spoke to Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane who says the department was not aware of the theft of ARVs from La Lucia clinic.
“La Lucia is a municipal clinic, we will have to work together with the municipality to get to the bottom of this.”
Simelane warns that people shouldn’t create a market for stolen goods by buying medication they know is available free of charge.
“There isn’t much that the government asks you to pay for. Except if you are employed and you go to a government hospital, then we charge you a small fee. But everything else is free. If you buy medication knowing that it is meant to be given to the community for free, then you are also a thief, same as the one who’s stealing the medicine.”
The MEC says the department is aware of similar reports where cough mixture and pain medication is stolen from government facilities and sold on the black market. However, the department has had little success in its investigations as those who sound the alarm bells are often reluctant to provide detailed information.
”We will investigate this matter, but people don’t come forward to say who is doing this,” says Simelane.
eThekwini municipality refused to comment on “issues or comments involving people who are not employed by the Municipality”.
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The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) says ARVs are paid for by taxpayers and should be protected.
“We will engage with the Department of Health and all relevant stakeholders in ensuring that security in public health facilities is tightened to deter criminals from stealing ARVs and all other medications,” says Solly Nduku from SANAC’s Civil Society Forum.
“We are also aware that ARVs are often used to manufacture illegal drugs in the Black Market and distributed to drug users. This is extremely dangerous considering the fact that incorrect use of ARVs leads to drug resistance meaning, should these users become HIV positive, it will be difficult to manage the HIV in their body, thus rendering them vulnerable to premature death.”
Nduku calls on the public to come forward with information “all syndicates involved in stealing of ARVs are brought to book and face the full might of the law”. – Health-e News
